WK20: Day 5 - This is Hard But I'm Happy!

I hope everyone is feeling full of yummy food and contentment after their Christmas festivities :) Mart, Luke and I had a lovely time at Granny and Grandpa even with the few hickups I had which saw me needing to go into Exeter hospital on Boxing Day. I had more bleeding on Saturday and again on Monday which although I tried to put down as nothing I couldn't stop worrying about. I wasn’t having any major abdominal pain or cramps but a few niggling pains which were enough to make me want to get checked over. They performed a full check of the babies, an internal and measured my cervix, thankfully everything seemed ok.   

Here’s a very happy Luke sitting on a farmers tractor. (Similar to one Granny and Grandpa gave him for Christmas!) I’ve never seen anyone so pleased with themselves :)  

Physically this last week has been quite up and down for me. The ups have been feeling all the boys moving, sometimes even turning completely around. They are really going for it now. Sometimes it’s just a little flutter but a lot of the time its a proper kick or movement that I can see on my belly. I’m starting to work out who’s doing the moving as well which is lovely. I won’t bore you with the downs, but for anyone reading my blog during their own multiple pregnancy, it’s more for your reference. I’ve been having a number of lower abdominal pains, leg and pelvic pains, constipation, heart burn and reflux. I have also been struggling with a lack of appetite and sleepless nights which I think are more down to stress and worry than any physical effects of the pregnancy. I have been prescribed Ranitidine for the heart burn which is working wonders. The rest it just the beginning of what I have been expecting which is likely to continue until my little stars are born. It’s not really surprising with the lack of space in there and the extra weight I’m carrying.

So we had our appointment with the specialists on Wednesday and overall everything is looking good. The boys have grown the right amount and are about size of a big banana now, their heads about the size of a clementine. Our fetal medicine specialist performed the full standard 20 week anomaly scan which checks for a number of things now visible at this gestation period. They are;

• The shape and structure of the baby's head. At this stage severe brain problems which happen very rarely, are visible.
• Whether there is a sign of a cleft lip. Cleft palates inside a baby's mouth are hard to see and are not often picked up.
• The baby's spine, both along its length and in cross section, to make sure that all the bones align and that the skin on its back covers the spine
• The baby's abdominal wall, to make sure it covers all the internal organs at the front.
• The baby's heart. The top two chambers (atria) and the bottom two chambers (ventricles) should be equal in size and that the valves open and close with each heartbeat.
• The baby's stomach. Baby`s swallow some of the amniotic fluid that they lie in which is seen in the stomach as a black bubble.
• The baby's kidneys. Whether there are two of them and that urine flows freely into its bladder. If the baby's bladder is empty, it should fill up during the scan and be easy to see. The baby has been doing a wee every half an hour or so for some months now!
• The baby's arms, legs, hands and feet. The fingers and toes are also checked but not counted.
• As well as this detailed look at how your baby is growing, the placenta, the umbilical cord and the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby are also checked.
• (reference for above from http://www.babycentre.co.uk)

99% of the checks came out perfectly which is amazing! The only thing which is causing some concern is an increased amount of amniotic fluid around twin 2. We don’t know at this stage what it could be but they have decided that I will need closer monitoring. I will be going in for another check next Wednesday rather than my fortnightly appointments. I need to stay positive until we have a better idea of what’s going on.  Here are some pics of the boys, again being quite camera shy!

Baby 1 with his back to us. You can see his head and spine. 

 Baby 2 - this is the first twin with his back to us as well. 

Baby 3 - this is the second twin. You can see the profile of his head with his brother above him (back facing us)

Baby 4 - this is the side profile of baby 4. You can see his face and arm at the top of the pic.

Tomorrow is a very special day for me. Not only is it New Years Eve, but it’s also our wedding anniversary. I wish I was in a better condition to be able to spoil my gorgeous husband rotten, and paint the town red, but I’m not so instead it’s going to be a cozy night in with some delicious dinner and a mini bottle of champagne that I’ve treated myself to :)  HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!! I hope 2012 brings you much joy, happiness and fulfillment of all your goals and dreams.

My bump has grown so much in the last couple of weeks! I’m seeing the physiotherapist next Friday and I’m hoping she’ll be able to give me a bump support as the weight is already starting to take it’s toll on my back and pelvis. What is quite funny is I keep getting asked by people when I’m due. To see the shock on their faces when I say that I’m not actually due until the 15th May, then having to explain I’m expecting quadruplets. There’s no doubt I’m going to be HUGE!  Here’s my bump at 20 weeks. 

20 weeks pregnant